TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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DRAGONS EDGE ULM!
ratiopharm Ulm's tremendous team effort fell just short of an upset in Saturday nights 91-87 road loss at Artland Arena. In an exciting game, ratiopharm Ulm pushed the talented Dragons to the limit before falling by four points in the hardfought loss. Rocky Trice was outstanding for ratiopharm Ulm with an 18 point 10 rebound 5 assist performance while Robin Benzing added 18 points 7 boards in the loss. Taking many positives from the game, ratiopharm Ulm's team effort was a performance to build on.
ratiopharm Ulm forward Coleman Collins defends Artland Dragons forward Adam Hess in Saturday nights game at Artland Arena.
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Playing at Artland Arena, a venue in which they had never won, ratiopharm Ulm was focused for their challenging matchup against the third placed Artland Dragons. For Per Gunther, the game was special because he celebrated his 23rd birthday Febuary 5th. Ulm fans who made the long trip to the beautiful small northwest German town of Quakenbruck lined Artland Arena's Ulm section with a nice 'Happy Birthday Per' sign. Feeling good and positive about the road trip and road game, ratiopharm Ulm was ready for a great game against the strong Dragons.
Tipping off, Ulm started slow with empty possessions in the first two minutes of action. Two Tyrese Rice free throws and a Nathan Peavy jumpshot gave the Dragons an early 4-0 lead. But Ulm's Robin Benzing hit a pullup jumpshot before John Bryant tipped in a miss evening the score at 4. The next three minutes were all Artland as Rice finished a drive at the rim, Adam Hess drilled a post reaction three, Darren Fenn finished in the lane and Nathan Peavy got another bucket for the Dragons.
ratiopharm Ulm defenders Robin Benzing (21), John Bryant and Rocky Trice (24) close in on Artland Dragons point guard Tyrese Rice in action from Saturday nights game at Artland Arena.
Following Artland's 9-0 run that established a 13-4 lead at the mid point of the first quarter, ratiopharm Ulm raced to a 7-0 run cutting the deficit to 13-11. Ulm's Sebastian Betz drilled a three pointer off excellent teamwork and ballmovement to start the run for his team before John Bryant scored in the lane and Betz hit another short jumpshot. Coleman Collins sank one of two free throws pulling Ulm within a basket at 13-11. Tyrese Rice buried a pullup three pushing the Dragons up 16-11 but two free throws from young German center Michael Wenzl kept Ulm close at 16-13. Darren Fenn scored in the lane and from the top of the key for three for Artland, but Coleman Collins sank an elbow jumpshot and Rocky Trice stuck a tough pullup for Ulm. Artland held a 21-17 lead going into the final minute of the first quarter. Two Tyrese Rice free throws gave the Dragons a 23-17 advantage but Sean Sonderleiter finished strong for Ulm. Rice added two more late free throws before Rocky Trice drilled a three for Ulm closing the first quarter scoring. Artland held a 25-22 lead.
Former NBA forward Rob Kurz made his Artland Dragon debut against ratiopharm Ulm Saturday night at Artland Arena. Here, the former Notre Dame sharpshooter is defended by Ulm's Coleman Collins.
As quarter two began, Artland's Ali Seggelke scored before Rocky Trice sank two free throws and hit another pull up J. Ulm trailed 27-26. Artland center Ruben Boumtje Boumtje hit two free throws for the hosts before Per Gunther sank a pullup jumpshot from the right wing. Ulm trailed 29-28. Nathan Peavy scored on the block for the Dragons but Per Gunther finished a strong drive from the left corner with an acrobatic bank shot keeping Ulm close, 31-30. Moments later, captain Lee Humphrey gave ratiopharm Ulm their first lead of the ball game 33-31 with a corner three. Boumtje Boumtje scored in the lane to even the score 33-33 at the five minute mark of the second quarter. A strong finish from Per Gunther through a foul gave Ulm a 35-33 advantage before Adam Hess scored on a post move for Artland. Robin Benzing made a strong step through post move finishing an AND1 three point play pushing Ulm up 38-35 with just over two minutes in the half. Sean Sonderleiter hit a wing jump shot giving Ulm a 40-35 lead. Artland's JJ Strasser hit a lucky three from the left wing just before the shot clock buzzer and Tyrese Rice scored to even the game at 40. Per Gunther made one of two free throws giving Ulm a 41-40 lead but Artland finished the first half strong with back to back baskets from Adam Hess and a post move from recently signed Rob Kurz pushing the Dragon lead to 46-41. Ulm's Travis Walton drove strong for a layup bringing Ulm within 46-43, but a late half basket from Tyrese Rice lifted the hosts to a 48-43 halftime lead.
At the half, Ulm trailed by five but took many positives from the first twenty minutes. As a team, Ulm shot 55% from the floor making 3 of 8 threes (38%) and 8 of 12 free throws (67%) wile outrebounding the Dragons 19-18 in the first two quarters. Artland hit 50% of their shots including 4 of 14 threes (29%) and 8 of 9 from the foul line (89%). Ulm suffered 7 turnovers to the Dragons 1 turnover in the first half. Ulm's strong run in the second quarter came as a result of excellent teamwork and ballmovement on the offensive end.
Opening the second half, Ulm's Rocky Trice drilled a wing three cutting the deficit to 48-46. Nathan Peavy scored on a short jump shot for Artland. Robin Benzing, Rocky Trice and Coleman Collins scored three straight baskets lifting ratiopharm Ulm to a 52-50 lead. Darren Fenn hit one of two free throws cutting the Dragon deficit to 52-51. Coleman Collins scored again but Darren Fenn drilled another three evening the score at 54. John Bryant gave Ulm a 56-54 lead but Artland's Nathan Peavy answered with a strong score on the block evening the score at 56. John Bryant converted one of two free throws for Ulm before JJ Strasser and Fenn got back to back baskets for the Dragons giving the hosts a 60-57 lead. Robin Benzing finished for Ulm cutting Artland's lead to one, 60-59. Nathan Peavy sank a three and Artland used back to back baskets from Adam Hess and Tyrese Rice to build a 67-59 lead late in the third. Rocky Trice finished a baseline drive strong keeping Ulm within 6, 67-61 but Ruben Boumtje Boumtje pushed Artland's lead to 69-61. A Sean Sonderleiter jumpshot cut the margin to 69-63 at the end of the third.
In the fourth quarter, the Dragons extended their cushion with a fast 4-0 run. Nathan Peavy scored on the block before JJ Strasser sank two free throws. Artland led 73-63 with just under 8 minutes remaining. Sean Sonderleiter got a big basket for Ulm but Tyrese Rice returned the margin to double digits 75-65. Ulm still had time for a run. Energizing wing Sebastian Betz made a strong basket cut and drew a foul from the Dragons defense. Basti sank both free throws. After a defensive stop, Ulm point guard Per Gunther drew a foul and made one of two free throws. Ulm was working their way back into the game and traield 75-68. Darren Fenn made one of two free throws before Rocky Trice scored for Ulm. With just over half the quarter to play, Ulm trailed 76-70. But on the next Ulm offensive possession, Robin Benznig's open three from the left wing rimmed out. Hustling to make a play, center John Bryant came up with the loose ball offensive rebound. Fans screamed for a foul as John passed to a wide open Rocky Trice on the right wing. Again, Ulm's open look rimmed out. This time, officials called John Bryant for a foul as he got tangled up with Artland's Darren Fenn in the battle for rebound position. John's fifth foul was made worse when another official hit Ulm's center with a technical foul. Artland received four free throws plus the ball. Fortunately for Ulm, Artland's Darren Fenn came up empty missing his two foul shots. Ali Seggelke cooly sank the two technical shots and Artland led 78-70. After a defensive stop, Ulm's Per Gunther drew a foul and made both from the foul line. Darren Fenn made one of two free throws for Artland before Robin Benzing sank a left wing three for Ulm. Artland's lead was 80-75 with just over three minutes to go.
In the games most important possessions, Artland turned to All Star post player Darren Fenn who scored inside and hit two free throws giving the Dragons an 84-75 lead. Ulm's attack came up empty missing several good looks during the crucial stretch. Finally, Robin Benzing made two foul shots trimming the gap to 84-77. Darren Fenns scored again on a strong post move across the lane and Artland led by 9, 86-77 with two minutes to play. Ulm kept fighting. A three pointer from Robin Benzing and a score from Per Gunther trimmed the gap to 86-82 with under one minute to go. Tyrese Rice made one of two free throws giving Artland an 87-82 advantage. ratiopharm Ulm used their final timeout to advance the ball and design their set play. Immediatel, Robin Benzing received the sideline in bound pass and attacked the basket drawing a foul. Unfortunately for Ulm, Robin hit one of two free throws and Ulm trailed 87-83. Forced into the fouling game, Ulm went for a tactical foul but never received a whistle. The result was a Nathan Peavy breakaway slam pushing Artland to an 89-83 lead. Per Gunther drew a foul and made both free throws pulling Ulm back within 89-85. But a second situation saw Ulm go for a tactical foul and officials not whistle resulted in another easy score for Artland's Darren Fenn. Finally, Ulm's Coleman Collins hustled through the final buzzer tipping in a miss setting the final score at 91-87 for the host Artland Dragons.
ratiopharm Ulm defenders Sean Sonderleiter and Lee Humphrey are split by Artland Dragons point guard Tyrese Rice.
ratiopharm Ulm was led by guard Rocky Trice's 18 point 10 rebound 5 assist performance while Robin Benznig added 18 points 7 rebounds and point guard Per Gunther chipped in 14 points in the loss. Coleman Collins gave Ulm good minutes and finished with a solid 11 points 5 rebounds 3 assists. Artland was led by Darren Fenn's 24 points 8 rebounds and Tyrese Rice's 20 points 5 rebounds 9 assists in the win. Nathan Peavy added 17 points 3 rebounds 3 assists and Adam Hess had 11 for the Dragons.
As a team, ratiopharm Ulm shot 50% from the floor making 6 of 22 threes (27%) and 19 of 26 free throws (73%) while outrebounding Artland 37-36. Artland hit 49% from the field including 6 of 23 threes (26%) and 17 of 24 free throws (71%). Ulm suffered 11 turnovers to the Dragons six in the contest.
Despite the hardfought loss, ratiopharm Ulm takes many positives from the strong team peformance. Looking ahead, Ulm returns home to Sportszentrum Kuhberg for a Saturday night matchup against the rebuilt LTi Giessen 46ers. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
